More than a month after a hectic trade deadline, the Philadelphia 76ers find themselves on a downward slope in the standings, thanks in large part to the fact that Joel Embiid is still out of action due to injury. That said, only a few, if any, would say the team has come out on the losing end since then.
At the forefront of Philadelphia’s trade plans is the acquisition of highly coveted sharpshooter Buddy Hield. The 76ers were able to convince the Pacers to give up on him for three second-rounders and salary increases – a considerable reduction considering the high demand for his services.
Hield represented a legitimate flight risk for Indiana, and his diminishing role indicates the front office will most likely look elsewhere to fill his shoes. That’s exactly what they did, and Philly ultimately came out on top, as the Pacers star. Tyrese Haliburton recently explained why Hield was a big loss for him and his club.
“He’s so important in our offense with what we do with a lot of ghost screens and the way we move. His presence shooting the floor, it opens up a lot for me because you’re not going to be in as much the gap. if you keep Buddy because you know how he is as a shooter. So it’s been a little different on the court, obviously.
– Tyrese Haliburton
The 31-year-old was a defining part of the Pacers’ style, with his three-point shooting being a crucial feature of their top-ranked offense. Since trading him to the 76ers, Indiana has regressed from downtown, with Haliburton particularly struggling as he has converted just 23.8 percent of his threes since the All-Star break.
To compensate, the Pacers inserted Andrew Nembhard permanently into the starting lineup, but the second-year guard just isn’t of Hield’s ilk. Already a low-volume shooter himself, his 34.8% average conversion rate from downtown didn’t help.
Conversely, despite a meager record over this period, the 76ers have appreciated Hield’s top-notch shooting as a resident shooter off the bench. He’ll be entering what could be a pretty lucrative free agency for him, but the 76ers have complete control over his destiny with the franchise because they have his Bird rights and the front office has a ton of cap space.
Ultimately, Philly pulled off the Buddy Hield trade, and the Pacers’ changed dynamic is a giant testament to that.
Following. fa losing teams. 4 free agents on losing teams expected to sign with the 76ers this summer. dark
